Construction work is well under way on a new Next Home store being built next to the A38 with buildings also going up on the other side of the road where a retail park is being constructed

The 7,000sq m Next store will include a cafe and is set to create 140 jobs when it opens.

Over the road, buildings are being put up for a new Costa and KFC as well as other retail outlets

Plans for the Next shop were approved last year and will include one of the retail giant's new 'Home' format stores, which combines fashion, furniture and home-ware, along with a garden centre and a café.

It is being built at Marsh Mills on the A38 in Plymouth, reports The Herald .

Councillor Ian Bowyer, leader of Plymouth City Council said: "This is a redundant site being brought back into use, providing retail jobs as well as training opportunities along with construction jobs during the build period.

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“Not only will it boost the city’s economy and jobs market, it will generate over £200,000 a year in net income (after all costs) to the council, which will help towards paying for front line services.

“This is a great example of a public/private partnership, with our city and our residents benefiting directly and indirectly from this deal.”

The store will provide employment on the site for the first time in more than 10 years, as well as creating rent revenue for the council and £300,000 in business rates per year.

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A swish flythrough video released by the retail giant in support of the project in August 2017, shows Costa branding on the outside of the building.

Coffee shop chain Costa already has a drive-thru on the retail park opposite the St Modwen Road site and plans to build a new outlet at the nearby Plymouth Gateway Retail Park, which is under construction.

That new retail park at Marsh Mills is starting to take shape after a large metal structure appeared on the site.

Work began in summer last year on the Plymouth Gateway Retail Park development, which will see shops and restaurants stand tall where a popular hotel used to be.

An array of retail giants, new to Plymouth, both in furniture, homewares and food, will be moving into the site in the next year.

The Costa Coffee on the retail park will be the ninth in the city, and there is another just a stone's throw away near Vospers.

Ediston Real Estate - the company who bought the site for £6.1m in February 2016 - said the site will also feature a KFC drive-thru.

The outlet will be the third drive-thru of the fast-food restaurant chain and sixth KFC in total in the city. The Costa and KFC units alone will generate 60 jobs for the area.

And the retail park will also become home to kitchen retailer Wren, Sofology, carpet and floor retailer Tapi - all of which are new names to the city - as well as Mothercare, which is relocating from the city centre.

Ediston says the shops and eateries will be open to the public within a year.

The company secured planning consent for 54,766sq ft of retail accommodation in five huge, three-storey units.

Wessex Investors had acquired the long leasehold of the former Novotel Hotel at Marsh Mills, Plymouth in October 2010.

Their initial plan was to redevelop the prominent A38 site for a high quality retail warehouse park.

But the property was acquired as a trading business and so, in partnership with specialist hotel managers Legacy Hotels & Resorts, Wessex Investors the company continued to operate the 100-bedroom hotel until October 2013.

(Image: Penny Cross)

In November 2013 planning permission was confirmed for a retail warehouse development of 55,000 sq ft plus mezzanines and car parking.

By 2014 Wessex Investors had acquired the site freehold as well as additional land to complete the development on a larger scale.

In June 2014 all buildings on site were then demolished ready for the build.